Health and Environment Supporter

*Project location:
Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field.

This provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers, and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means“hot springs garden”. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeline and chances are you won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely “Steam Valley” behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles, and steam vents. 

Our host is a non-profit organization called the NLFI Rehabilitation and Health Clinic, which is a part of the Natural Health Association of Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy their diverse rehabilitation programs, which are focused on an approach that builds self-confidence and personal responsibility for the patient's own health. Since its foundation in 1955, the clinic has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, for the personal and effective care of patients. It is one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland. In the last few years, this ongoing camp has been the most popular camp in our organization.

*Work:

The nature of the work depends largely on weather conditions, which can change quickly. Volunteers should bring clothes appropriate for outdoor work, but also clothes for working inside the warm greenhouses. Working hours are usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and volunteers will have a coffee break in the morning and a one-hour lunch break.

*Participants: We host international volunteers, most of them around 18 to 25 years old.

*Camp leaders:

There are always one or more leaders for each camp, depending on the size of the group. Leaders represent the link between the hosting community and the group of volunteers. They coordinate the work, organize leisurely activities, plan excursions, organize the shopping, house chores, and cooking sessions. Apart from these additional responsibilities, they are equal to other volunteers. Most of our camp leaders are from other countries, as we are very open-minded in hosting international leaders from other organizations

*Accommodation

Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags and towels, but beds and bed sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge. The rooms are double with share bathrooms.

*Arrival

Volunteers must be at Reykjavik BSI Bus Station at 9 am on the starting date to start the program.

*Departure

The group will be back in BSI Bus Station (Reykjavik) around 18:00 (Keep this in mind while booking your flight). For the departure, volunteers will be picked up in the afternoon of the last day of the program, Monday.

We strongly recommend arriving in Iceland at least one day before the first day of your workcamp and depart no earlier than one day after the last day of your workcamp.

*What to pack?

• Hiking boots 

• Work gloves

• Water bottle

• Work clothes (for outside & inside the Greenhouse)

• Warm sleeping bag (we only provide bed sheets)

• Towel

• Swimsuit (to take advantage of the traditional swimming pools and hot springs)

• Warm and waterproof clothes/shoes (you will spend time outside)

• Slippers/shoes for indoors, we don’t bring shoes inside the houses!

• Raincoat

• Pillow

• Medication

• Food, photos, or anything interesting related to your country for Intercultural Nights

• Cash (ISK or Euros) for camp fees and excursions as we do not accept credit card payments on the spot.

• Baggage allowance: 1 large suitcase & small carry-on 

• 7:30 Breakfast
• 8:00 - 10:30 Working in the greenhouse
• 10:30 - 11:00 Break
• 11:00 - 12:00 Working in the greenhouse
• 12: 00 Lunch
• 13:00 - 15:00 Working in the greenhouse
• 15:00 Free time
• 18:00 Workshop
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:00 Planned activity (Ex. Movie night, Game night, Aurora hunting)

 Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including the hot river in Reykjadalur. WF Iceland will also organize reasonably-priced weekend excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland can offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights, such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam vents, and even icebergs. The two excursions that we offer are the Golden circle which is included and the South Coast excursion which has an extra fee of 80 EUR.